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Gene Smith, Ohio State AD, makes announcement on future with Buckeyes program

Ethan Stone

By Ethan Stone

Published:

Gene Smith, who has served as Athletic Director for Ohio State athletics since 2005, announced Wednesday that he will retire on June 30, 2024.

Prior to Ohio State, Smith served as AD for Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and Iowa State. Smith is 67 and the longest-tenured AD in the Big Ten.

“Effective June 30 of 2024, I am going to retire from the Ohio State University,” Smith announced. “We’ve had a great opportunity to work with a lot of people here, and I just want to thank the leadership of Ohio State… The presidents and board of trustees that I’ve worked for have just been tremendous and just great people. Great opportunities they’ve provided me.

“I’ve always believed that a leader seeks to be the right person at the right time in the life of an institution. I just believe July 2024 is the right time to welcome in new leadership to build on what we’ve already achieved.”

Here are his full comments on his upcoming retirement and his final season as AD of the Buckeyes.

While at the podium Smith joked that many people in the room likely thought he was calling a conference to discuss conference realignment, an appropriate topic considering 4 new teams are set to join the league in the next year.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.